Improvement in steam lubricators



VW. HAMILTON. Steam-Luhricvators.

Patented March 25, 1873.

, AM H1070 -LlmasRAPH/c co. N. assums manges) PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM HAMILTON, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM LUBRICATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 132,073, dated March 25, 1:72.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, WILLIAM HAMILTON, of the city and county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam Lubricators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawing and the letters of reference marked thereon making part of this specitlcation, in which is represented a vertical sectional view of my improved lubricator.

The nature of my invention consists in securing within the cha'mber or cup of the lubricator, and extending horizontally through the same, a hollow or tubular bolt, provided with orifices or openings leading to its interior channel, and through which is received or supplied from the chamber the lubricating material, and which the tube feeds or conveys to the steam pipe, chest, or cylinder to` which it is attached. To the extremity of the spindle or needle-valve, and communicating directly with its tubular passage, is secured a brass point, being cone shaped and extending through its entire length. This orifice furnishes a valve-seat for the tapering needlepoint of a spindle, which is inserted and operates within the channel or tube of the bolt, and by means of which the iiow or quantity of lubricating material which shall be discharged is regulated. The relative diameter or dimensions of the discharge-orice and the needle-point are to be such, and herein lies one of the chief advantages of my invention, that when through the action of the spindle the valve is closed, the tapering section of the needle shall not only iill the orifice, but its point shall protrude or project beyond the discharge-outlet of the same, and which serves to always keep its passage open and free from all crustation or other obstruction, and which is a difficulty experienced with all other steam lubricators, and which results from the great tendency which oil, tallow, Sac., have to adhere to a highly-heated metal surface. My invention also`consists in so recessin g the nuts and jam-nuts as to admit of the use of lead gaskets, the recess preventing the spreading out of the lead, and making a perfect joint by having the soft-metal gasket a little thicker than the recess. My invention also consists in providing the Chamber of the lubricator with an adjustable steadyingplate to aid in securing in the desired position the lubricator by means of the hollow wroughtiron bolt after it has been attached to a steam pipe, chest, or cylinder, the steadiment in connection with the jam-nuts retaining it in a fixed position.

The construction and operation of my invention are as follows: A is the chamber or cup, which is cast or otherwise constructed out of any suitable metal, and is of the usual form. Bis a funnel aud air-cock combined, and is provided with a key, C, having two openings leading therethrough, one opening, c, registering with the central inlet-opening b of the funnel, and through which the lubricating material is supplied to the chamber 5 and the other opening, c ,registering with the opening bf, which extends through the baseof the cylinder, and is provided for the escape of air. This chamber or cup A is cast with lateral openings a a., which are opposite each other, and on the female screw-threads of which is secured the tubular or hollow wrought-iron bolt D. The head D of this boltis recessed, as are also the jam-nuts E E E, so as to admit and secure the gaskets c e of lead or other soft metal. These gaskets or washers e e are to be a little thicker than the recesses are deep, which secures a perfectly tight joint, while at the same time the recesses prevent the lead from unduly spreading out. This hollow bolt D is provided with openings d d, which extend through the wall of the bolt and lead directly to the channel H. YThrough these openings d d enters the lubricating material, which through contact with the heated bolt is soon so melted as to cause it to iiow freely, and through these orifices d dalso escapes the steam, which,

soon becoming condensed, being heavier than the lubricant, drops to the bottom of the cup A, and thus aids in feeding the lubricant after in the chamber the latter has fallen below the level of the bolt D. In the mouth of this bolt D is screwed or otherwise attached a brass point, H', which is recessed, and has a cone-shaped discharge-orifice, h. This recess and discharge oriiice communicate directly with the channel H of the hollow bolt D. G is a valve spindle or needle, and is provided with a tapering steel point, g. The relative diameters of the orifice h and the needlepoint g are to be such that when the valvea 13mm;

needle is screwed down into the orifice so as to shut off all further flow of the lubricant the point of said needle shall project through or extend out beyond the mouth of the orifice, as clearly shown in the drawing, which insures of the orifice always being kept open and free from all crustations. The spindle or needle valve G is readily operated by means of a handle, G', constructed of wood or other heat non-conductin g material. This chamber or cup A is provided at its base with a cock, F, by means of which water and sediment from the chamber are discharged. At the side and near the lower section of this cup is a closed recess, a', into which is secured the socket-plate K, and which, in connection with the recess c', furnishes a cup-bearing for the steadyingTplate K. This steadying-plate is adjustable in its bearing, being fastened at any given or desired point therein by means of the set-screw 7s.

From the foregoing description the operation of the lubricator will readily be understood. The lubricator being attached to the steam pipe,'chest, or cylinder which it is designed to supply by inserting the tubular bolt D, and fastening the same by means of the jam-nuts E E, the adjustable steadyingplate K aiding to retain it in a true and proper vertical position, the key C is turned and the lubricating material, through the funnel B, is fed to the cup or chamber A, the orifices b and c affording a free escape for all air which may be contained therein. The key is then turned so as to close entirely the aircock. The spindle G is now screwed back so as to leave the orifice h of the point Hf, and which leads to the channel H of the tubular bolt open. The degree of this opening and the amount of its discharge depend on the position of the needle point g of the spindle. Steam now enters through the orifice 7L and channel H, and pa-ssing through the openings d d, soon, owing to the fact that the chamber 4A is exposed to the atmosphere, becomes condensed, and condensed steam being heavier' than the lubricant the steam falls, which causes the lubricant to rise and, entering through the orifices d d into the channel, to pass from there to be distributed. This is when the lubricant is below the level of the bolt. Wvhen it is not the heat of the bolt quickly melts the tallow, 85o, which, by a natural iiow, enters the channel, and is thence conveyed to the steam-chest, and there discharged into the body of steam. The lubrieating material is taken up and thoroughly permeates the steam, so that the whole of the interior parts of the engine are thoroughly lubricated. Whenever the orifice h becomes obstructed by crustation, caused by the tendency of all lubricating materials to adhere to highly-heated metal, and such the point H necessarily becomes, it is readily relieved of all such obstruction, simply by turning the spindle so as to drive its needle-point through the orifice, and thus the apparatus is always kept in regular and perfect working order.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. The hollow or tubular bolt D having orices d d, and metallic point H having coneshaped opening h, spindle or needie G having a tapering point, g, the whole being so combined and arranged that the valvespindle not only regulates the ow of the lubricant by its projecting point, but also serves to keep the discharge-orifice g open, substantially as described.

2. The adjustable steadying-plate K', socket K, recess af, and set-screw k, when the same are s o combined and arranged as to operate substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscribin g witnesses.

WILLIAM HAMILTON.

Witnesses:

J oHN FArRBArnN, JOHN OLIVER. 

